So how do you avoid this? Well, start with a system that can handle simple, scalable shop floor connectivity. A digital platform that allows for all the equipment in a single location to be connected to the digital world is good, but one that allows all the equipment in a global operation to be connected is better. The second option won’t punish you for succeeding either. As your business expands, connectivity should be an easy and integral part of your growth. Data led decisions can be made as you grow, ensuring the most efficient processes are put in place ahead of time, making your data work for you and the resources spent on it provide a greater ROI. A smart connectivity solution should enable automation in data handling too. If you’re spending people hours on data collection and cleansing, you’re wasting money and talent. Your connectivity platform should be capable of handling the grunt work on its own, freeing up time and resources to be spent on innovation and achieving the next big thing. Your chosen solution should have usability at its core too. Without it you are again going to be wasting hours of your experts’ time that could be better spent revolutionising your business. Going further, if your solution is usable by all the people in your company then they can turn it into insight that helps you save money in a wider variety of areas, not just those your shop floor experts might have eyes on. Affordability How do you make your data affordable? SHOP FLOOR CONNECTIVITY ACROSS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN